Caltrain staff propose bicycle surcharge

SF Streetsblog attended the Caltrain Joint Powers Board this morning in San Carlos. In the meeting, the board discussed declaring a fiscal emergency and scheduling public meetings for service cutbacks. Among the proposals brought up by Caltrain staff to save money or increase revenue:

If Caltrain charges $1 per bike per trip, that's an extra $40 per month for me. It's likely I would just stop riding the train for nine or ten months out of the year and bike the whole distance, so they lose the $112.75 per month they currently get from me. Penny wise and pound foolish.

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Comments:

And seriously...how could Caltrain possibly expect to generate actual revenue from such a scheme? I've heard that lots of folks bring their bikes on the trains, but they are but a tiny fraction of total ridership.

I think it is a lot of scare tactics. By having a financial emergency then they can get around certain studies and review policies. Their numbers will not add up. If you cut services you will not have the same numbers of riders, so total revenues will go down from both the increase as well as the reduced services. Like you said, you may stop riding just with the increased bike fee.

They need to stop buying big ticket purchases and construction. They just received new Bombabiers and PA/Cal Ave cost over $6m by itself. It is nice but I would rather have old cars and stops, as to reduced trains and higher faers.

I would support the $1 surcharge if Caltrain coulda) guarentee no bumpingb) refund full ticket if bumpedc) charge the fee once on board.They can't or won't do any of those, and CA state law requires no cost bicycle carriage.